Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-30


sooner thought of than acted upon. The
containing the simu
acrum OF my respected aunt-wlll reach
You 10y express shortly after this letter.
The old lady-if you find her inside-will
doubtless prove an admirable subject FOR
spookical Investigation. AZ any rate, you
are welcome to her, on one condition-sbe
Is not under any circumstances to be re-
turned to me. The trunk-it you discover
nothing in it's - very serviceable one for
travelling. paid $2S for it less than 10
years ago"
munlcttion, DR.. q found himself IN
somewhat doubtful state of mind. The
signature-that of u citizen well known
outside of Bath-gave the statements 1t
containeda credibilty they would not
otherwise have possessed. 1t is an axiom,
however, with psy hical experts that
nothing new should be regarded as un
worthy of sober Investigation. Accord
ingly, the doctor made point of speaking
personal lily on the subject to each one OF
the six gentlemen who, together with
himself, formed the Committee on Haunt
ed Houses The facts IN the case he told
them in briefly circumstantial manner.
Concerning the details he did not feel at
liberty to inform them, the letter he had
received having been marked private
and confidential" The main point was
that he had, very likely, a ghost shut up
in trunk. Would his fellow members
meet at his house on Marlborough street
the next Wednesday evening for the pur-
pose of opening the said trunk and exam
ming its contents
The fellow members-ent Enthusiasts every
one of them in the cause OF psychlcal re-
search-looked rather blank at this. They
had talked and written a great deal about
ghosts, from theoretical standpoint; but
the prospect of encOunterlng real one,
however devoutly they had wished for
such an opportunity, did not seem to rem
der them as happy as might have been
expected. Nevertheless, they all expressed
the utmost interest in the matter, and
promised to be on hand at the time APP
pointed.
The trunk arrived Just IL hours later
than the letter which accompanied it. 1t
was a huge concern, quite weighty,
though apparently empty. Two leather
straps and a rope deliberately knotted
served to render the massive brass lock
additionally secure. The baggage man
said that it was most the biggest he ever
see as he carried it upstairs on his shout
der to Dr. q. IS library. There it was de-
posted in a corner to await the time set
tor opening ii.
Before this time arrived DR.. Q was d.s-
appointed to receive from four of his six
fellow committee men regrets that it
would be impossible for them to be pres
ent. They were very sorry to miss chance
of meeting in a social way a spook that
had come to Boston with such uneXcep-
tiouable credentials, but circumstances
over which they had no control rendered
it impossible for them to attend. One
gentleman was called away on business,
another's wife was indispOsed, and SINH
larly with the two remaining
So Wednesday night found DR.. q.
smoking a comfortable pipe, in dressing
gown aud slippers, before his library fire
Now and then he looked at his watch
expectantly. Two of the committee had
sent no excuses, and he was waiting for
them. The mysterious trunk loomed up
in the farthest corner, huge and pregnant
with imaginary horrors. 1t was a grow
some hour. The wind howled without,
and the rain beat fiercely agcinst the panes.
Nine O'Clock. Still no one came. Ten.
There was a ring at the front door; it was
only a beggar mau. The doctor mixed a
toddy of such moderate strength as was
I judiciously calculated to offset the de
pressing effect of the weather. Eleven.
He brewed another glass-just trifle
stronger this time-which had an en-
couraging effect. 1t is great thing to
he physician with special education
| III pharmacy, since one is thus enabled
not only to make out prescription but
to fill it as we'll AT precisely II :45 by the
| clock the good doctor rose to his feet with
an expression of grim determination upon
his genial countenance. With his left
| hand he grasped a crystal chalice into
which he poured m,odicum Of some pre-
cious amber colored liquid. To this he
added grudgingly small quantity of
! boiling water from little brass kettle
that stood in the CRATE, and finally pre-.
else teaspoouful of powdered sugar. The
mixture was carefully stirred and swal
lowed at gulp. "Ah !" said the doctor
that goes to the seat of the disorder
| A
don't believe those other fellows were
afraid to come. But it takes more thar
one ghost to brighten me. Where's the
keyY 1t was enclosed in the letter from
Bath. oh yes, have it. So here goes
And with this he began to unfasten tn,
was secured. Next, having dragged i
out with some difficulty into the middl,
of the room, he seated himself upon it re
tlectively.
Now" said he, cts my opinion tina
there is nothing either material or spir
itual inside of this trunk. If there is n,
ghost within, am badly sold IT, on tn,
contrary should discover spook, VIVA
on earth am to do with ii = Iu ethe
case the situation is embarrassing Befor,
opening it | will apply my ear to thu
crack uuder the lid and listen for noise
No; there is not alsound. | do detect some
thing, however, it is smell an earth,
ou'oi 90 VI IiC eil'Cy ma, IlON
weakly superstitous is the human mind
OF course, my Imagination is responsible
for so absurd an illusion. The key stick
in the lock. Now it turns, So. As
thought ills empty. Not a thing inside
Yes-by Jove there it is. 1t is tn
ghost !"
The distance from the trunk to the doc
of the room was perhaps IS feet A prac
ticed runner might have covered it in on
and a half seconds. The doctor did it il
less. There were two or three chairs il
the way, but he did not pay attention t.
them Whatever. On the landing outsid
the door he paused suddenly as if irreso
lutte. as it possible" he said aloud, "tha
| am afraid, 1t looks so. And yet wha
is the use of being a professional hunte
of spooks if | haven't the courage to fac
one | dare say that many of my fellow
searchers for psychical truth would Civ
their boots for snch an opportunity a
this. ! believe ] said few moments ag
that II took more than one ghost to scar
me. We will test the accuracy of tina
statement now" And the doctor, layin!